Simonskloof Retreat - Mountain Cabin Western Cape

I will be back with my fam. Properly protected and respected land. Peaceful, tranquil, far away and over two mountain ranges from the city gives it a Bortle 2 class sky, excellent for star gazing (even without a scope). I encountered a porcupine late at night and a little DSH cat that shyly hung around in the bushes a little way off. Hidden, but accessible amenities: taps, toilets, showers. The other campers were very respectful, the shower was fantastic. Grass on most stands, many stands very far away from each other. Not many other campers at all when I was there, which was nice. You don't need a 4x4, and SUV/higher clearance would be good, but its very do-able in a normal sedan or hatch-back (though you'll probably have to leave the roadster at home).

Views 10/10 ✅|Privacy 10/10 ✅|Attention to detail 10/10 ✅|Noise & light pollution 0/10 ✅||Cabin: Comprehensively amenitized, clean and rustic, with spectacular, private views around the valley.||Camp site: Well-equipped, convenient ablutions. Camp sites are fairly close together, so great to invite friends and family too!||Overall: Clear comms by the host. Generational, family owned-feel with attention to detail and deep knowledge of the valley and surrounds. Easy to find, with a well-kept road. So special to have access to multiple, world-class hiking trails amongst vibrant fynbos flora. A treat for birders as well!||Feeling extremely rested and rejuvenated after our 3-night stay.

A true unplug camping experience in nature. We found the perfect spot under the large shady oak tree, offering privacy from other guests, easy access to tap water and a stone-built fireplace (remember to bring your own braai grid). The bathroom facilities at the campsite are simple but functional - a compost toilet and a refreshing open-air bush shower that’s perfect for cooling off after a hot day outdoors. There’s plenty to explore in the remote mountains, from hiking and trail running various trails to cycling past Keerom Dam, exploring the scenic mountain pools and taking on the challenging Gecko Trail (we did Route B). If you're interested in finding out more about our visit at Simonskloof, check out our Instagram @TrailParks.

Simonskloof is in Neverneverland, the land far away that time forgot. It is in a mystical valley, with ancient trees, a small stream, indigenous fauna and flora and large, beautiful camp sites that don't feel crowded or rough in any way. The composting toilet was novel for one family member, but for most of us they're very pleasant and easy to use. The outdoor, hot showers are a dream, with views of the sky and absolute privacy - one of the best campsite showers I've used. Jurgens and his team are welcoming, organised and the sites are clean, comfortable and well serviced. The hike to the dam was a good workout, and great fun and we will definitely be back! With my dad's landrover and solar panels which make off-grid camping just that little bit easier. Fabulous fun and a wonderful discovery in the Koo/Nuy valley xx

WOW! We absolutely loved camping here with our dogs! Lovely campsites, with amazing hot outdoor showers and gorgeous views. There are a lot of hikes around and natural pools as well. Great place for cycling, hiking and trail running and just getting away from the city and spending some mindful time in nature without signal. The host is so kind and we had car trouble as well and he was so helpful and even followed up after our stay to make sure we got home safe. We are so happy to have discovered this very underrated, new place to camp that is dog friendly as well. Thanks once again, see you soon!

This is a review of the Simonskloof camping site. The sites are situated mostly on grass with shade from Oak trees. The site is quite rustic with outdoor toilets and showers but makes the whole experience very sustainable. There are some super hikes and a dam and rock pools for swimming. Great place to relax and unwind. Last but not least, the owner Jurgen is really friendly and helpful and enjoys sharing his love of the natural environment. Highly recommended

We stayed in one of the 3 cottages at Simonskloof - Faraway Cottage. I couldn't find many reviews of the cottages online, only reviews of the campsite. Inside it was nice and clean and neat and the view from the front patio and the fire place outside was just stunning - especially as the sun rose and set, casting light on the valley below. We went in mid winter so it was bitterly cold (frost on the car in the morning, sun hit the cottage at 9am) and we were supplied with extra blankets which was a kind gesture. I didn't think the big potjie pot fire place warmed the living room up sufficiently. The bedrooms had really nice wooden boxes for hanging clothes in and bag storage. The main double bed mattress was fairly hard. Everything in the kitchen was perfectly sufficient to our needs, stored neatly and thoughtfully and I was impressed with the plastic-free approach (a wooden handled washing brush for example) and without electricity we had plenty of Consol jar solar lights and hooks to hang them on and an axe provided to chop firewood which a nice touch. There was no soap provided in the bathroom (they did say bring your own), and 1 ply toilet paper was unsatisfactory (although I guess it is more environmentally conscious to use 1 ply?!). I was surprised that nowhere on the website was I warned of a cleaning fee, but when we read the guest info booklet found inside the cottage they requested us to please clean up after yourselves before checking out or leave R400 cash if you don't. Of course we didn't leave the place in a mess and no one should (we did the dishes), but surely the cleaning of the cottage post-check out is included in the price of the accommodation? Having said that, I was grateful for the very kind hospitality of the stand-in hosts (the owner was away overseas) and they guided us to do a lovely but steep hike up a big hill to a view point where we could see the big dam on the other side of Worcester. That is when you realise just how far you have to drive around the mountains of Worcester to get to Simonskloof.